Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Seven puppies and three dogs found living in deplorable conditions at a home in Bedington were seized by Berkeley County authorities Wednesday as part of an ongoing animal cruelty investigation by the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department and Berkeley County Animal Control.

The case is being investigated by Berkeley County Animal Control officers, with the assistance of Lt. W.A. Johnson.

Police said in a news release Wednesday that Animal Control Officer Squires received information that a woman, identified as Sarah Upwright, of Bedington, had animals living in poor conditions at 383 Bedington Road.

During the investigation, Squires found the home was covered with fecal matter and garbage, and a toxic odor was emanating from within the home, police said.

After obtaining additional testimony from officers who have received previous complaints about the residence in the past, Johnson submitted a request for a search warrant that was granted by Berkeley County Magistrate JoAnn Overington, police said.

Its purpose was to verify conditions at the home and rescue any animals being subjected to poor living conditions there.

About 1 p.m. Wednesday, Johnson, two Animal Control officers and a county building inspector served the search warrant and found nobody home.

"Inside the home, conditions were even worse than suggested or imagined," Wednesday's press release states.

Ten animals were removed from the home, which was subsequently "condemned" by the inspector, police said.

Further investigation and charges are currently pending in the matter.

If anyone has any information about this crime, they are asked to contact Officer Squires at Berkeley County Animal Control at 304-263-4729. If callers wish to remain anonymous, they may call the Berkeley County Crime Solvers tip line at 304-267-4999.

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